Newbie question - Guild Wars Guru archive powered by Guild Wars Legacy

Kyolic

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2010

17 Jan 2010 at 09:17 - 1

Hi all,

I am a current wow player (warlock) but being totally frustrated with pvp aspect of the game (people who play it should guess what I mean), I am looking for an other mmorpg which would satisfy my needs. I am only interested in pvp and as far as I heard, Guild Wars is the right mmorpg for this.

I have a question beforehand and it would be great if some of the experienced people would care answering:

Is this game so very gear dependant like wow? If so, is accsessing to good gear is also pain in the neck like wow?

Thanks in advance.

bsoltan

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2005

UK

[SoF]

17 Jan 2010 at 09:26 - 2

No, accessing perfect gear is extremely easy for PvP characters.

For PvP you can unlock equipment using the faction you earn from winning PvP matches, you can then use this equipment on your PvP characters. The equipment is also unlocked account wide for all PvP characters so the next one you make will have access from the start.
Once players get the equipment unlocked you are at the same level as every other player as there are no better weapons or armour than what is available from unlocks.

When you start PvP you will already have armour and weapons available to you, the only thing you need to unlock are modifiers for these weapons and armour.

As an aside if you do try the PvE aspect of the game, anything you identify and unlock that way also unlocks account wide for PvP.

Oh, if you really want there is a PvP Equipment unlock pack which will unlock all the gear for you at a small cost of RL money, I'm not sure how much it is though but that makes for a quicker way of getting access to the equipment.

Also note that you will be wanting to use the faction you earn in PvP to unlock skills as well as equipment.

Zodiac Meteor

Imma Firin Mah Rojway!

Join Date: Aug 2008

At the Mac Store laughing at people that walk out with anything.

E/Mo

17 Jan 2010 at 09:34 - 3

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyolic

Hi all,

I am a current wow player (warlock) but being totally frustrated with pvp aspect of the game (people who play it should guess what I mean), I am looking for an other mmorpg which would satisfy my needs. I am only interested in pvp and as far as I heard, Guild Wars is the right mmorpg for this.

I have a question beforehand and it would be great if some of the experienced people would care answering:

Is this game so very gear dependant like wow? If so, is accessing to good gear is also pain in the neck like wow?

Thanks in advance.

Guild Wars PvP is... different in some what of a bad way.
It is split into low-end and high-end areas.
Low end list:
Random Arena's
Alliance Battles
Fort Aspenwood and Jade Quarry

High end list:
Guild Battles
Codex Arena's
Heroes Ascent

Low end is a okay way to start off, but you WILL need to PvE if you don't want to buy the PvP Packs.
High End is broken sadly. Putting it simply, you suck, you don't play.
To jump into high end you will need all 4 games, nearly every skill and item unlocked for hard-core PvP.
There is still some guilds that are welcoming people to join to start PvPing in high end. Don't expend flawless win streaks, but do expect having fun trying new things.

What is great about Guild Wars, it takes an average player 6 or 7 hours to get to max level, max armor and strongest weapon in PvE. In PvP that's all done for you instantly. Also compared to WoW PvP in Guild Wars is all about fast reactions, reading your opponent and future timing. You will get to know this really well playing as a monk.

I'm not saying you will love the PvP, but you can't really go wrong as you can get 3 games for $50 and not have to pay a subscription.

WARNING: Get used to the controls and layout before jumping right into PvP. Simply PvE a little, A lot of stupid tactics is formed by not knowing what to do.

Kyolic

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2010

17 Jan 2010 at 10:08 - 4

Perfect!

Thank you for your answers guys.

So which unlock pack should I buy and how much would it cost?

Tbh, spending some bucks on the pack and getting accsess to everything instantly makes better sense to me.

branamanp

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Oct 2008

[MOB]

A/

17 Jan 2010 at 11:06 - 5

all of the unlock packs are 9.99
there is the equipment pack for all your armors and then there are 5 skill unlock packs
core, prof, factions, nightfall, and eotn
so if you dont want to have to bother with unlocking in game from faction gained it will cost you around $60.
also there are 2 options for buying the game
if you are completely sure you dont want to do any pve you can get just the pvp version or you can buy all 4 so you can get all the skills.
you an also find the games cheaper if you shop around online and get them indavidualy instead of getting the trilogy

Pugs Not Drugs

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2009

17 Jan 2010 at 14:07 - 6

If you do get the PvP pack, I would not jump into high end PvP just yet. I would first do lots and lots of low end PvP and find a position you like and get comfortable with the bars. Then I would find a good, active, and low pressure guild to get used to GvG or HA with.

Obrien Xp

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jan 2009

Canada

The First Dragon Slayers [FDS]

17 Jan 2010 at 17:52 - 7

Guild was is skill based, gear is easy to get, the more you pay the better it LOOKS. In pvp it is even easier to get good gear.

Welcome to gw enjoy.

Kyolic

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2010

17 Jan 2010 at 22:53 - 8

Thank you for the replies and warm welcome guys.

Now if I buy:

Guild Wars® PvP Access Kit

https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/St...tem;item_id=62

Will I need to buy some unlock packs too?

bsoltan

Site Contributor

Join Date: Dec 2005

UK

[SoF]

17 Jan 2010 at 23:43 - 9

Yep, that will give you a few items.

However you'll also need this if you want all the equipment unlocks: PvP Item Unlock Pack

Plus all the separate skill packs if you want those too.

Kyolic

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2010

18 Jan 2010 at 00:03 - 10

Hmm...

1- Guild Wars® PvP Access Kit

https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/St...tem;item_id=62

2- PvP Item Unlock Pack

https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/St...tem&item_id=98

3- Core Skill Unlock Pack

https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/St...&item_id=10 0

I don't need anything else at all right?

Dytonis Strom

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2010

PA, USofA

The Funny People

E/A

18 Jan 2010 at 00:58 - 11

Either way you should deffinetly settle for GW for pvp i dont like wow pvp anyways ^_^

Stealth Bomberman

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2008

18 Jan 2010 at 01:40 - 12

big difference in wow and gw pvp. gw pvp u can move and fight at the same time =). hopefully this changes somewhat in gw2

Dzjudz

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz

18 Jan 2010 at 02:11 - 13

Core skill are not all skills! Core skills are skills that can be found in all 3 campaigns (prophecies, factions and nightfall). This is only a portion of all skills.

glacialphoenix

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2008

Singapore

Royal Order of Flying Lemmings [ROFL]

Mo/

18 Jan 2010 at 07:01 - 14

Quote:

I don't need anything else at all right?

Yes, yes you do. Dzjudz just said it - core skills are skills that can be found in all three campaigns (e.g. Word of Healing, Mind Burn, Barrage...) You won't get very far with just those - you're going to need Prophecies, Factions and Nightfall skills as well.

Kyolic

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2010

18 Jan 2010 at 08:58 - 15

Ok then can somebody tell me what to buy exactly if I want to have all skills and gear available at once?

My latest guess is this:

1- Guild Wars® Trilogy

https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/St...&item_id=11 0

2- PvP Item Unlock Pack

https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/St...tem&item_id=98

3- Core Skill Unlock Pack

https://secure.ncsoft.com/cgi-bin/St...&item_id=10 0

Or I don't need Core Skill Unlock Pack when I buy #1 and #2?

glacialphoenix

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2008

Singapore

Royal Order of Flying Lemmings [ROFL]

Mo/

18 Jan 2010 at 09:14 - 16

You're going to need all the unlock packs - look here, wiki has a list of the skills they unlock.

EDIT: I'm not sure if the campaign packs overlap with the Core one, though, someone else should confirm it.

Also, number of skills in each campaign here, and FAQ from the GW main site here.

If you already have all the campaigns, you probably won't need the PvP Access Kit; if you're just starting, you may also find it more worthwhile to just play a few characters through the game to unlock stuff and get used to the system that way.

Kyolic

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2010

18 Jan 2010 at 09:23 - 17

Quote:

Originally Posted by glacialphoenix

You're going to need all the unlock packs - look here, wiki has a list of the skills they unlock.

EDIT: I'm not sure if the campaign packs overlap with the Core one, though, someone else should confirm it.

In that case game will cost me about 90€ (130$).

glacialphoenix

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2008

Singapore

Royal Order of Flying Lemmings [ROFL]

Mo/

18 Jan 2010 at 09:25 - 18

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyolic

In that case game will cost me about 90€ (130$).

That's if you're getting everything by buying the unlock packs. If the campaigns as a whole are cheaper, it's probably more worthwhile to get the campaigns + eye of the north, play through them, unlock skills that way - once one character learns a new skill, it's considered unlocked and usable by all heroes and all PvP characters of that profession.

It also drops the need for a PvP access kit, since you'll get access to PvP from buying the campaigns; you'll also have PvE if you want to take a break from PvP.

Neky

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Nov 2009

Incredible Edible Bookah [YUM]

D/W

18 Jan 2010 at 10:14 - 19

Buy the trilogy, play PVE with 3-4 toons to get to know the mechanics of the game and all that.

In this way you:

1. Save RL money.
2. Find your favorite profession to PVP with.
3. Unlock 70% of skills/weapon/armor mods (Unlock=make it available for every PVP toon on the same account, as well as available for heroes on the same acc)
4. Enjoy the fine game of Guild Wars.

Not as fast as "buy buy buy" but much more enjoyable and also cheaper.

Nechrond

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: Oct 2009

Netherlands

Utrecht Usurpators

D/

18 Jan 2010 at 11:16 - 20

Quote:

Originally Posted by Neky

Buy the trilogy, play PVE

THIS

Quote:

with 3-4 toons to get to know the mechanics of the game and all that.

In this way you:

1. Save RL money.
2. Find your favorite profession to PVP with.
3. Unlock 70% of skills/weapon/armor mods (Unlock=make it available for every PVP toon on the same account, as well as available for heroes on the same acc)
4. Enjoy the fine game of Guild Wars.

Not as fast as "buy buy buy" but much more enjoyable and also cheaper.

Or just build a PvE monk, unlock a bunch of monk skills in PvE, then build a PvP monk and do RA. You'll get lots of wins because your team will have a monk and over half the time, theirs won't. Wins = faction points = m0ar unlocks. You'll have fun doing it, you'll get a sense of satisfaction out of it because you're improving your future characters, and you'll save money.

Dzjudz

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jun 2005

gwpvx.com/user:dzjudz

18 Jan 2010 at 12:04 - 21

You don't need to buy any unlock packs. You can unlock skills and items as you play, even if you only buy the PvP Access Kit. The unlock packs are only used so you can have access to all skills and items from the start. But you can still access them without the unlock packs. You only have to 'earn' them with Balthazar Faction and unlock them as you play.

glacialphoenix

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2008

Singapore

Royal Order of Flying Lemmings [ROFL]

Mo/

18 Jan 2010 at 13:22 - 22

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dzjudz

You don't need to buy any unlock packs. You can unlock skills and items as you play, even if you only buy the PvP Access Kit. The unlock packs are only used so you can have access to all skills and items from the start. But you can still access them without the unlock packs. You only have to 'earn' them with Balthazar Faction and unlock them as you play.

And just to make things doubly clear - I'm quoting Dzjudz for emphasis - I was giving you what you'd need assuming you wanted to get everything unlocked straight off.

If you buy the campaigns, it's a lot more worthwhile to play through and

1. Hone your skills and your familiarity with the skills and character classes;
2. Anything you unlock via the PvP kits will not transfer to your PvE characters, although the reverse is true. That is, your PvE characters have to earn whatever they have themselves, either by buying them (buying skills or tomes) or by capping them (in the case of elite skills that you haven't unlocked.) In other words, if you buy the kit to unlock stuff fast, you're only unlocking them for your heroes and PvP characters; any new PvE character won't personally benefit. (The same thing applies to things you unlock via your PvE characters - it doesn't carry over to any other PvE character. However, you're not spending actual cash to buy the skills.)
3. You can unlock skills both by learning them in PvE or by unlocking them via Balthazar Faction, which, as people have said, helps you play better and probably gives you more enjoyment in the long run. There are plenty of ways to earn Balthazar Faction.
4. I hear the campaign's a cheaper option.

moriz

??ber t??k-n??sh'??n

Join Date: Jan 2006

Canada

R/

18 Jan 2010 at 17:34 - 23

you can get away with just buying the pvp access kit. that should give everything you need to set up a few builds, and just unlock all the rest with balthazar faction points as you play.

however, that's coming from me who has more experience in the game, and thus knowing what i need from the get go. you won't have this luxury unfortunately. picking out the right skills might be difficult for you without help.

another thing to take note of, is that GW is a team game. never build your characters to be entirely self-sufficient, because you can't.

Kyolic

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2010

18 Jan 2010 at 19:00 - 24

Guys I am really not interested in pve. I've done it in wow and have been a hardcore raider for a long while. Yet it was consuming all my time and after a point it started to become an hassle. I don't want that anymore so pve is a big no for me.

Besides that, I really don't want to spend time on earning points or anything. I really don't want to. All I want is to get the skills and the gear asap and start playing.

I think I am going to start with PVP Accsess Kit and see how it goes.

shillo

Academy Page

Join Date: Sep 2006

18 Jan 2010 at 19:20 - 25

OK, I've done a quick check in the online shop (for me, it's in Euros, and I'm rounding up .99's):

* PvP Access kit - 18 euros
* Item unlock - 9 euros
* Skills: Core, Prophecies, Factions, Nightfall, Eye of the North - total 45 euros

Total: 72 Euros. That's complete PvP with everything unlocked. To get started, you only need the access kit. Or you can even download the free trial and try that (I think it has 10 hours limit, and I think you can roll a PvP character there. You will not be allowed to chat, though - goldspam protection).

If you change your mind and go the unlocking route, note that Guild Wars requires you to choose 8 skills before entering combat zones. This means you only need to unlock those particular skills - and for any specific build, it's a few hours of gameplay if you don't already have any of the necessary skills. So with the PvP Access Kit, you can relatively quickly unlock just the common metagame builds and go from there.

glacialphoenix

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Jul 2008

Singapore

Royal Order of Flying Lemmings [ROFL]

Mo/

18 Jan 2010 at 19:37 - 26

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kyolic

Besides that, I really don't want to spend time on earning points or anything. I really don't want to. All I want is to get the skills and the gear asap and start playing.

Then shillo's method will probably work best for you. Even if you're going to jump straight into PvP, you will earn Balthazar Faction. It comes with the format; you can use it to unlock skills once you earn it. Not asking you to grind, but probably the best way of saving yourself some cash - unlock the stuff you intend to play later with faction, so you don't have to buy it. You'll be getting the points anyway.

Kyolic

Pre-Searing Cadet

Join Date: Jan 2010

18 Jan 2010 at 20:24 - 27

Quote:

Originally Posted by glacialphoenix

Then shillo's method will probably work best for you. Even if you're going to jump straight into PvP, you will earn Balthazar Faction. It comes with the format; you can use it to unlock skills once you earn it. Not asking you to grind, but probably the best way of saving yourself some cash - unlock the stuff you intend to play later with faction, so you don't have to buy it. You'll be getting the points anyway.

Hmm that makes sense if I'll be getting points anyway. Then I can see how fast I will be able to unlock skills and decide to buy some unlock skill packs if necessary.

I will have to buy the item unlock pack anyway so the total cost would be 27 euros as for the begining and may be just stay there if I am able to collect points fast enough.

Let me try that and I will go on bothering you guys if things go wrong with the plan!

Thank you guys again and again for your help. Highly appreciated.